This may be the most technical chapter in the book, but DeYoung writes so clearly that it’s easy to follow his logic and to see his conclusions borne out in the Scriptures. He focuses on two New Testament passages which seem clearly to condemn homosexual behavior.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)
Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. (1 Timothy 1:8-11)
The revisionists
(those who dispute the traditional understanding of marriage and sexuality)
claim that Paul is not really speaking about homosexual behavior at all,
but only about specific kinds: like pederasty or prostitution. They insist that
the loving and committed relationships we see today in homosexual marriage are
not at all forbidden, but only violent or exploitative kinds of sexuality.
DeYoung dismantles
these arguments by tracing the Greek words that are being translated into our English
Bibles. In fact he shows how these New Testament passages are directly connected
to the Leviticus 18 and 20 (from his chapter 3).
Now for some
quotes:
This
understanding of malakoi and asenokoitai [the disputed Greek words
discussed in the chapter] fits with the consensus of modern English
translations, fits with the ethics of the Old Testament, fits with the training
Paul would have received as a Jewish scholar, and, most importantly fits within
the context of Paul’s argument. (p. 67)
Paul is saying
what we find hard to hear but what the rest of the Bible supports and most
church history has assumed: homosexual activity is not a blessing to be
celebrated and solemnized but a sin to be repented of, forsaken, and forgiven. (p. 67)
